Arthur McCoy (right) is pictured at his retirement ceremony with U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman. The ceremony took place in the Detroit Room of the federal courthouse.
(Photo by Dan Weininger)
By Joan Campau
Arthur McCoy has served the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan longer than almost anyone else.
During the past 42 years he has witnessed the investiture of dozens of new judges and he can even recall walking the halls with Judge Thomas P. Thornton, a man who received his commission in 1949 from President Harry S. Truman. But to all things, there is a season. And for Arthur, now is the season for family, travel and soccer.
Arthur grew up in the Motor City and attended what was then called Western High School in southwest Detroit. Following a brief stint at the Post Office, he came to work at the court in October of 1981 at the age of 19. He was initially assigned to Court Services.
At the time, the four-person department handled all of the furnishings and supplies for the court.They did everything from building furniture to unloading truckloads of new carpeting.
A few months into the job, a position opened up in the Records Department
Arthur said he was interested because the job paid $1,000 more a year. He also thought papercuts would be an upgrade from the bruises he was getting moving furniture.
Arthur stayed in the Records Department for about two years before finding the role that would define his career.
Another longtime court employee, Jeanne Schmidt, encouraged him to consider the Jury Department. He says he was intrigued by the challenge and the opportunity to try something new. And every day since has held something new.
Looking back over several decades, Arthur reflected on his favorite aspect of the job.
“I love the people,” he said. “Some folks are great, some people are not so nice. But every day I get the opportunity to serve the public.”
His infectious smile and characteristic good humor accompanied him up through the ranks as he worked on high-profile and run-of-the-mill cases alike with zeal for the task at hand.
At a recent party to celebrate his retirement, colleagues recalled Arthur’s service to the court and passion for the work. Several people reminisced about his unique ability to bring people together and comments about his brightly colored shirts and perfectly tied ties brought smiles to many faces.
Arthur also met his wife, Jennifer, in the Jury Department. They have four children and several grandchildren. Arthur feels fortunate to live close to them as well as his parents and brother.
After he retires, he looks forward to a lot of “windshield time.”
He has promised to take his parents wherever they’d like to go on vacation and plans to help chauffeur his grandchildren to school and sports practices.
No stranger to the field himself, Arthur has been a soccer coach for almost 30 years as well as a referee for nearly 25.
To explain his lengthy tenure at the court, Arthur jokes that he got “caught up in the system.” But as you speak with him, the real reason shines through: he sincerely loves his job. Arthur said opportunities came along to work in other departments at the court, but he passed them all up.
“I was never going to get rich, but I have always been blessed to have the perfect job for me,” he said.
For a man who has spent so long in service to the court, the deliberations didn’t last very long on his case. The verdict is in: Arthur McCoy will be missed!
––––––––––––––––––
Joan Campau serves as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman.
(Photo by Dan Weininger)
By Joan Campau
Arthur McCoy has served the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan longer than almost anyone else.
During the past 42 years he has witnessed the investiture of dozens of new judges and he can even recall walking the halls with Judge Thomas P. Thornton, a man who received his commission in 1949 from President Harry S. Truman. But to all things, there is a season. And for Arthur, now is the season for family, travel and soccer.
Arthur grew up in the Motor City and attended what was then called Western High School in southwest Detroit. Following a brief stint at the Post Office, he came to work at the court in October of 1981 at the age of 19. He was initially assigned to Court Services.
At the time, the four-person department handled all of the furnishings and supplies for the court.They did everything from building furniture to unloading truckloads of new carpeting.
A few months into the job, a position opened up in the Records Department
Arthur said he was interested because the job paid $1,000 more a year. He also thought papercuts would be an upgrade from the bruises he was getting moving furniture.
Arthur stayed in the Records Department for about two years before finding the role that would define his career.
Another longtime court employee, Jeanne Schmidt, encouraged him to consider the Jury Department. He says he was intrigued by the challenge and the opportunity to try something new. And every day since has held something new.
Looking back over several decades, Arthur reflected on his favorite aspect of the job.
“I love the people,” he said. “Some folks are great, some people are not so nice. But every day I get the opportunity to serve the public.”
His infectious smile and characteristic good humor accompanied him up through the ranks as he worked on high-profile and run-of-the-mill cases alike with zeal for the task at hand.
At a recent party to celebrate his retirement, colleagues recalled Arthur’s service to the court and passion for the work. Several people reminisced about his unique ability to bring people together and comments about his brightly colored shirts and perfectly tied ties brought smiles to many faces.
Arthur also met his wife, Jennifer, in the Jury Department. They have four children and several grandchildren. Arthur feels fortunate to live close to them as well as his parents and brother.
After he retires, he looks forward to a lot of “windshield time.”
He has promised to take his parents wherever they’d like to go on vacation and plans to help chauffeur his grandchildren to school and sports practices.
No stranger to the field himself, Arthur has been a soccer coach for almost 30 years as well as a referee for nearly 25.
To explain his lengthy tenure at the court, Arthur jokes that he got “caught up in the system.” But as you speak with him, the real reason shines through: he sincerely loves his job. Arthur said opportunities came along to work in other departments at the court, but he passed them all up.
“I was never going to get rich, but I have always been blessed to have the perfect job for me,” he said.
For a man who has spent so long in service to the court, the deliberations didn’t last very long on his case. The verdict is in: Arthur McCoy will be missed!
––––––––––––––––––
Joan Campau serves as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
